The animals spend most of their life hidden away underground, only popping up to grab a passing bug for a quick meal. After a few years, they're ready to venture up into the light, hopefully for one last hurrah with a female before they expire. A tapping, leg-hooking, fang-blocking dance follows.

Of course, despite their shocking size, tarantulas are physically harmless. They're timid, and will run from human activity. Their primary defense mechanism are tiny hairs that irritate nasal cavities.